Wednesday, November 25, 2009

These are challenging times for our state. And when we're careless with our perspective, our everyday lives are affected, and our ability to find joy in the simple things is compromised. But as we all take a few steps back to gather with loved ones this holiday season, it is important to bank away a reserve; a bit of thanksgiving to carry with us throughout the year for those things big and small.

Schools are still open. Minds are still encouraged to learn. Each day promises of yet another child learning to read. And classrooms are full of students dreaming of ways they'll change the world. Another generation awakens a dream of being a teacher some day. Books enlighten curious minds to lands just beyond our grasp. Imaginations climb. Computers connect to Internet portals, uniting our front doors; bring cultures together, promising peace. The world is a classroom with limitless capacity. And we are all welcome to dwell within it. Young and old.

These things hold true long after the Thanksgiving holiday has come to pass. And these are the tokens we must tuck away for those days where advocacy is met by prolonged droughts of inspiration and progress. Be thankful this holiday and every day forward. Because for as long as there is a mind eager to learn, there is still so much to be hopeful for.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

October 1, 2009, Rev. Al Sharpton and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich toured BASIS, a nationally recognized charter school in Tucson, Arizona. While a banner day for Tucson, it was just one of many stops this "political odd couple" would make as part of President Obama's "Race to the Top" challenge to our nation's schools, which "is an unprecedented federal investment in [educational] reform. [Secretary of Education, Arne] Duncan will reserve up to $350 million to help states create assessments aligned to common sets of standards. The remaining $4 billion will be awarded in a national competition."

The second half of this past Sunday's "Meet the Press" featured both Rev. Al Sharpton, Newt Gingrich as well as Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. Together, the trio discussed their perception of the state of education in our nation, as well as what is working, what isn't working, and where improvements can be made. While disagreements on how we go about arriving at success remain, a succesful outcome is a shared objective; one in which all three agree partisanship has no place.

"If we could come together on education, I think it's an example to the kids that some things should be above our differences." ~ Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network

"[I]f politics are the art of the possible, our children deserve a chance to see us come together, to put their future above partisanship and to find a way to take on the, the establishment in both parties and try to get this [crisis in education] solved." ~ Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich

"Those old, tired fights of the past just don't get us where we need to go. Everybody's moving, everybody's willing to move. At the end of the day, we want dramatically different outcomes for students. That's the only reason we all work every single day." ~ Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan

How refreshing.

It seems to me there is a great deal our legislature could learn from these "political polar opposites". While the challenge reaches into every state across the nation and threatens political capital, this interview was a clear example of how civility can be the first step towards success. Decorum never took a back seat to ideology. Respect never took a backseat to partisanship. At the end of the day, this for me, a parent of school-aged children, is a clear example of how it IS possible for legislators on both sides of the aisle to rise above the partisan rancor and take the politics OUT of educational issues facing our state's future leaders.

If every invested organization, legislator, superintendent, voter can remove the politics from the debate over best practices, we may be able to put down the swords long enough to spare the educational future of our state's children. Because at the end of the day, it's their future we're all betting on. And the stakes have never been higher.

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Welcome to the Arizona Education Parent Network blog!
The Arizona Education Parent Network exists to provide parents, students, businesses and community members with accurate information and the resources to enable them to take action on behalf of Arizona students.
The Arizona Education Parent Network was conceived with no outside funding and is operated in conjunction with parent groups and friends of public education from across Arizona. We are a non-partisan coalition and we strive to find solutions to our current public education crisis.